A potpourri of philosophical and child development research-based perspectives as a way forward for early childhood curricula and pedagogy: reconcilable schism or irreconcilable severance?

Abstract

ABSTRACT The field of early childhood education is propelled by guiding principles stemming from philosophical and child development research positions. While the guiding principles of high-quality early childhood education are influenced by universal and local perspectives, it is critical that early childhood curricula and pedagogy are firmly evidence-based. The necessity of an evidence-base does not serve to reduce or eliminate the influence of the pioneering philosophers in early childhood education, whose legacy should not be relegated to history. Through this paper we aim to demonstrate a reconcilable schism rather than an irreconcilable severance between philosophical and child development research-based positions in early childhood education. For the purposes of this paper, attachment, bioecological, sociocultural and self-regulation research, together with a selection of seminal early childhood education philosophers, are selected to demonstrate the potential of theoretical intersectionality in the era of the early childhood teacher-as-researcher.